Katie Price’s rape accused ex-husband told girl, 13, ‘I love you’, court hears

Pictured here is Kieran Hayler in 2013 File Picture: Yui Mok/PA Wire

A 13-year-old girl allegedly raped by Katie Price’s ex-husband received a text message from him afterwards saying “I love you goodnight”, a court has heard.

Kieran Hayler, 39, is on trial at Lewes Crown Court accused of three counts of rape and one count of sexual assault on the teenager in West Sussex in 2016.

Giving evidence to jurors on Tuesday, the complainant, now an adult, told the court that Hayler texted her after the third alleged rape, saying “I love you goodnight” and she replied: “I love you too.” 

Footage of the complainant’s police interview showed her telling officers that when the alleged offences started, it “didn’t really” change the way she looked at Hayler.

“He was still acting the same way he was before, I felt I had to do the same,” she said.

The woman told police she had four showers a day at that time, adding: “I remember a phase changing my underwear three times a day.” 

She said: “I remember thinking, ‘he’s a lot older than me, is this something you should be doing?’, on a few occasions crying, thinking, ‘what’s going on, is this supposed to be happening?’.” 

The woman, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, told officers that Hayler had also called her and said: “You promise you won’t tell anyone? What we had was special, you better take it to the grave.” 

She added she was not “frightened” of him but felt it “would not end well for me, so I didn’t want to say anything” because she felt he would probably say she was lying or making her claims up.

Asked why she decided to come forward to police when she did, the woman replied: “Because I don’t want to go down the line in 20 years’ time and find out he’s done it to more than just me.” 

She recalled seeing something on the news about Hayler being lovely and said: “I got this rage inside.”

“He’s ruined my relationships with other people; he’s ruined sex for me. I was so angry,” the woman said.

“I got on my phone and started emailing the NSPCC.” 

Jurors were shown her police interview, in which the complainant told officers she had received a message of support from Ms Price, which said: “I know you’re going through a tough time, I support you through everything.” 

During her police interview, the woman emotionally described how she had told her mother when she was about 13 or 14, but added: “I think I lied to her” by not revealing the extent of what had allegedly happened.

“I didn’t want her to think I was disgusting, or disappointed in me for what had happened, because I thought it was my fault for ages.” 

Hayler was married to media personality Ms Price at the time of the allegations, but their relationship broke down in 2018, and they divorced in 2021.

He denies the charges and suggests his ex-wife had “launched a campaign” against him when their marriage ended, and the allegations form part of this, the court has heard.

In cross-examination on Tuesday, it was suggested to the woman by defence counsel Arlette Piercy that there was “not much detail” on the allegations of the first rape because “you make it up”, but she replied: “No, I was 13.” 

Of the second alleged occasion, Ms Piercy suggested “nothing like that happened”, to which the woman said: “It did.” 

The alleged victim is not part of Hayler or Ms Price’s extended families.

The trial continues.